Owlcat Games, the acclaimed developer behind the Pathfinder and Warhammer 40K role-playing game series, has reaffirmed its dedication to creating deep, complex CRPGs even as it expands into new territory with an ambitious science fiction project. In a revealing interview with PCGamesN celebrating the studio’s 10th anniversary, co-founder and creative director Alexander Mishulin provided insights into the company’s philosophy, growth trajectory, and upcoming projects that are generating significant excitement in the gaming community.
The Russian-founded studio, which has become a standard-bearer for modern computer role-playing games, now employs approximately 600 people—a remarkable expansion that places it among the largest RPG developers in the industry. This growth enables Owlcat to pursue an ambitious dual-project strategy, developing both a traditional CRPG and an action-oriented RPG simultaneously, much like BioWare did during its celebrated era of producing Mass Effect and Dragon Age titles in parallel.
Staying True to CRPG Roots While Embracing Innovation
When asked about the studio’s direction regarding the eternal debate between action RPGs and traditional CRPGs, Mishulin offered a definitive response that will reassure longtime fans. “We will continue to make CRPGs because we love them,” he stated emphatically. “We do not want to become stagnant. We will be trying different approaches for our RPG games, trying to find the best possible fit for the idea of the game.” This commitment comes at a time when many studios have abandoned the complex, systems-heavy approach that defined classic PC role-playing games in favor of more accessible action-oriented experiences.
Mishulin elaborated on the team’s creative philosophy, explaining that passion drives their development choices. “We want to create the best possible RPGs, we like them, we play them, we get inspired by them and we want our games to feel the same, that we would enjoy them ourselves and hope that they will inspire someone else to create even better ones.” This statement reflects a developer-first mentality that has historically produced some of the genre’s most beloved titles, from the original Baldur’s Gate series to more recent successes like Divinity: Original Sin 2.
Two Ambitious Projects in Development
Owlcat’s expanded workforce is currently divided between two major projects that represent different aspects of the studio’s evolving identity. The first, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, marks a significant departure from the company’s established formula. Based on the popular science fiction franchise, this game draws heavy inspiration from BioWare’s Mass Effect series, featuring a more action-oriented approach while maintaining the narrative depth and player choice that Owlcat is known for. The Expanse universe, originally created by authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck under the pen name James S.A. Corey, provides rich source material with its gritty, realistic take on humanity’s expansion into the solar system.
The second project, Warhammer 40K: Dark Heresy, represents a more natural evolution of Owlcat’s existing CRPG framework. Building upon the foundation established in Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, Dark Heresy introduces an innovative detective and investigation metagame that promises to differentiate it from the studio’s previous titles. Rather than placing players in the role of a powerful leader managing territories and organizations—a recurring theme in Pathfinder: Kingmaker, Wrath of the Righteous, and Rogue Trader—Dark Heresy focuses on the grim work of Imperial Inquisitors hunting heresy throughout the galaxy. This shift suggests a more intimate, investigation-focused experience while maintaining the tactical depth and complex character building that fans expect.
Rising to Industry Heavyweight Status
The studio’s expansion to 600 employees places Owlcat firmly among the elite tier of RPG developers worldwide. For context, Larian Studios—the Belgian company that achieved massive success with Baldur’s Gate 3—employs over 500 people. Meanwhile, Obsidian Entertainment, another respected name in the CRPG space responsible for titles like Pillars of Eternity and The Outer Worlds, currently operates with approximately 200 employees following Microsoft’s recent layoff waves. CD Projekt Red, creator of The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077, maintains around 1,134 employees globally, with 615 based at its Warsaw headquarters according to 2024 financial documents.
Perhaps most striking is the comparison to BioWare, the legendary studio that once defined Western RPG development. During its peak years in the 2010s, when it simultaneously produced Mass Effect and Dragon Age titles across its Edmonton, Montreal, and Austin locations, BioWare employed between 500 and 600 people. Following the disappointing reception of Dragon Age: The Veilguard and subsequent corporate restructuring, estimates suggest BioWare now operates with fewer than 100 employees—a dramatic fall that Owlcat seems positioned to capitalize upon.
Originally founded in Moscow in 2016 by veterans of Nival Interactive, Owlcat has since relocated its headquarters to Paphos, Cyprus, amid the geopolitical challenges affecting Russian businesses. The exact distribution of staff across different offices remains unclear, but the studio’s growth trajectory demonstrates strong financial backing and market confidence in its projects. As the CRPG renaissance continues—fueled by the extraordinary success of Baldur’s Gate 3 and sustained interest in complex role-playing experiences—Owlcat appears well-positioned to serve both traditional CRPG enthusiasts and players seeking more action-oriented adventures, potentially filling the void left by BioWare’s diminished output.
Expert Opinion: Owlcat’s dual-project strategy represents a calculated bet that the RPG market can sustain both traditional CRPGs and action-oriented experiences simultaneously. With Larian stepping back from Baldur’s Gate and BioWare’s uncertain future, the timing appears ideal for Owlcat to emerge as the industry’s premier RPG developer. The studio’s 600-person headcount suggests significant investor confidence, and if both The Expanse and Dark Heresy deliver on their ambitious promises, we could be witnessing the emergence of a new RPG powerhouse that rivals CD Projekt Red in scope and influence.
